97th Seal Beach Founders Day Honors Naval Weapons Station

97^th Seal Beach Founders Day Honors Naval Weapons Station

       Special to What’s Up by Libby Applegate

2012’s Founder’s Day theme is “Hometown Heroes.”  They would like all the input and photos they can get from local residents regarding  women and men who currently serve or have been stationed at the base in the past. It has been a part of our city since 1944 and its detachments provide shore-based infrastructure support to the Navy’s ordnance mission and other activities.

Initial construction costs were approximately $30 million, including over $4 million to buy out property from numerous local landowners who were living in an area of Seal Beach called Anaheim Landing. This area had a bowling alley, grocery store and according to locals was the best place to swim while going in and out with the tide in the 1920‘s and ‘30’s.

It is also home to several historical sites.  From 1963 through 1974, North American Aviation (now Boeing ) used the base property to build the second stage for the powerful Saturn V rocket, which propelled man to the moon during the Apollo program.  These huge vehicles were built in special multi-story structures, which are today used by base personnel for a variety of purposes.

A contingent of enlisted sailors as well as Commander Paul Werring, USN and his wife, Linda, from the Weapons Station will be attending the 97^th Seal Beach Founders Day Celebration in honor of the personnel and military here in Seal Beach. That will  be held on our world famous pier on Sunday, October 7, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

 Commander Paul G. Werring is the ?Executive Officer ?for the base. CDR Werring enlisted in the Navy in July 1982 and graduated from Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes, IL in February 1983. Among many more deployments, too numerous to mention, in June 1995 CDR Werring reported to the Tactical Support Center in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico where he was a Watch Officer supporting P-3 squadrons deployed to the Caribbean. He also made several trips to Panama supporting P-3s forward deployed to that country.

CDR Werring then reported to the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office in Washington, DC in June 2004. During this tour he was selected as the Military Officer of the Year in 2006. In July 2007 CDR Werring reported to Naval Station Chinhae, Korea where he served as Executive Officer. CDR Werring’s most recent tour was with the Joint Warfare Analysis Center where he served from October 2008 until October 2011. During this tour CDR Werring deployed to Afghanistan in support of US forces.

Entertainment will include music provided by Hank Barto Quartet from Leisure World; Oak Middle School Choir; Los Al High School Jazz Band (Ed note…”They are GREAT!) and the Los Alamitos High School Marching Band

 The 97^th Seal Beach Founders Day Celebration is proud to honor all of the men and women who have been our good neighbors for so many years.

Please visit our Seal Beach Founders Day blog for updates and history of the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach at sbfoundersday.wordpress.com.

Don’t Forget  – Seal Beach Pier -Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 12:30

Email your memories and photos to:  sbfoundersday.wordpress.com